Trick-shot Novak begins triple slam quest

MELBOURNE: Defending champion Novak Djokovic dazzled with a through-the-legs trick-shot as he began his quest for a third straight major title in awesome fashion at the Australian Open on Tuesday.

The world number one showed none of the injury pains that overshadowed the final months of last year as he dismantled Italy's Paolo Lorenzi 6-2, 6-0, 6-0 -- and even won a point with his audacious party-piece late in the match.

Leading 3-0 in the third and standing on the baseline, Djokovic turned his back to the court and clipped a shot between his legs to the flummoxed Lorenzi, who embarrassingly netted.

It was a sign of overflowing confidence in the Serb, who won 10 of 11 finals and went 70-6 last year -- despite being derailed by injuries after the US Open -- in a season described by some as the best in tennis history.

The Wimbledon and US Open champion is now bidding to become just the fifth man to win three consecutive grand slam titles in the Open Era joining Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Fifth seed David Ferrer, a semi-finalist last year, had a straight-sets win over Portugal's Rui Machado, extending a strong start to the year after he won this month's ATP event in Auckland. (AFP)